Keep Kids Safe by Educating Them About Coercive Control in Relationships

Widen your circle of concern

As part of my writing process, I attend webinars and seminars to ensure that what I write is both honest and respectful. It’s important to remember that marginalized individuals in our communities are trying to survive.

They are not weak, dirty, or less human. Many people are doing the best they can with the circumstances they were given. They are strong, resilient. Brave. Doing what they can to survive. It's time to bring them into our circle and let them know they belong.

Katie Green is a survivor and thriver who brings hope to those trapped in trafficking. She also guides those who want to make a difference. I’m grateful for the insight she shared during her webinar, Trauma Treatment for Survivors. I encourage you to take the time to learn about the important work she is doing.

I resently attended a presentation by Dianna Sinovic . Click on her link to check out the coolest writer's webpage I've yet to come across! She spoke about how writers carry a theme in the back of their minds as they work—something that shapes the story so that the plot continually returns to it.

When she asked about the underlying theme in Mouth Shut Head Down , the answer was on the tip of my tongue. Throughout the writing, editing, and polishing process, I always returned to:

Maintaining autonomy and agency within relationships.

If we want to help young people—and adults—recognize and move away from unhealthy relationships, we need to talk about coercive control. Katie Green and other professionals consistently identify coercion as a key tactic used by traffickers.

There are three primary ways individuals are trafficked: fraud, force, and coercion.

Most people understand fraud and force. But coercive control is more subtle, an insidious manipulation that creates confusion and dependency. Traffickers are skilled at this.

My goal is to get Mouth Shut Head Down into the hands of young people, as well as parents, guardians, and educators, so that more people can recognize and understand coercion.

When we don’t talk about this form of abuse, it quietly grows, eroding a person’s autonomy and sense of self.

Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep our children safe. Don’t be afraid to have important conversations. Mouth Shut Head Down can be a starting point—a way to open dialogue with tweens and teens about the dangers of coercive control.

Contact me to be a part of the process in your school, community, or book club.

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Interview with Channel 6 news, Alabama